Packers vs Eagles: Is Eagels RB LeSean McCoy the X-Factor?

LeSean McCoy has been able to do something I never thought would happen in Philadelphia. Something that I don’t think that anyone expected or that any expert had predicted. McCoy is having such a good season, that no one is thinking of Brian Westbrook.

The awesome thing is- McCoy is actually a better player than Westbrook, and this is just the start of his career.

McCoy is a beast. This is a player who is only 5-11 and 208 pounds. But this guy plays with more heart and more energy than anyone on the field. I have never seen McCoy give up on a run, and he is always pushing for more yards.

Unfortunately for McCoy, he is playing under the Andy Reid west coast playbook. Which means that the Eagles pass the ball and then when the Eagles are having trouble passing the ball, they just go on and pass some more. Throughout the entire season, McCoy has only 207 touches, but over 1,000 yards rushing. That speaks volumes for McCoy’s ability to run the ball and shows that he is one of the top rushers in the entire NFL.

The Eagles first playoff game is at a home against the Green Bay Packers, and it is possible that the Eagles X-factor is McCoy. The Packers are a deadly team, and they are one of the toughest teams to beat in the playoffs. Philadelphia is going to need some help, and McCoy is the man to bring the support on offense.

‘Shady’ McCoy can take the ball on any down and become an instant threat, as he has the speed to outrun any defender on the field, and the elusiveness to slip out of some of the toughest tackles. Not to mention the killer cutbacks that have most defenders on the ground and ‘Shady’ no where to be seen. There have been countless situations where McCoy has taken the hand off and just totally reverses field to make a busted play into a huge gain.

Where McCoy will be valuable in the Packers matchup will be his down field vision, which is another one of the impressive traits he possess. When the Packers have the soon to be Defensive Player of the Year in Clay Matthews, a running back that can avoid and make plays around Matthews will be key to the Eagles success.

There is only one way to contain the ClayMaker- Avoid him.

But then again, this is Reid’s offense which means that McCoy probably won’t be getting too many touches throughout the game. However, this is not a problem for McCoy, as he is one of the best receiving running backs in the entire NFL. Along with having one of the best receiving running backs in the entire NFL, the Eagles also have one of the best screen passing games in the NFL.

This is where McCoy is really valuable to the Eagles, against an aggressive and fast moving Packers defense. Screen passes are a great way to take advantage of that aggressive defense and get some fast and easy yards. McCoy has been excellent this season in the passing game and there is no reason that will change against the Packers.

Then of course McCoy’s most valuable asset to the Eagles offense, and more valuable than ever against the Packers defense- The ability to stay in the backfield and block for Michael Vick.

The Eagles offensive line has a had a rough season, and in turn it creates a lot of pressure on Vick in the backfield. However, whenever McCoy is in the backfield and is set to block, he engages the defender and makes sure that Vick has some extra time to throw.

This will prove to be invaluable against the Matthews’ led Packers defense, and I would not want anyone else protecting Vick. McCoy has had a great season as a pass protector and is truly one of the most underrated running backs in the NFL.

McCoy is kind of under the radar, as he is overshadowed by Vick and the rest of the explosive Eagles offense, which makes him the perfect weapon. In other words, McCoy is the Eagles X-factor.